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Forty individuals from 23 countries became American citizens on Thursday (January 23) during a ceremony at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York in Syracuse. The event took place amid concerns over President Donald Trump's recent moves to tighten immigration policies following his inauguration on Monday (January 20).
Lucas Mueller, a 58-year-old from Switzerland, expressed mixed feelings about the day. "I had to be a citizen," he said, emphasizing the importance of voting and community engagement. Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda Sannes addressed the new citizens, encouraging them to remain positive despite political challenges. "Don't let any corrosive discourse dishearten you," she said.
The ceremony included individuals from countries such as Cambodia, Ukraine, and Venezuela. Bharathy Premachandra, a graduate student from Sri Lanka, voiced concerns about the next four years but felt relieved to have gained citizenship. Andrea Alli, from Trinidad and Tobago, noted that the lengthy process was "all worth it in the end."
President Trump, who was recently sworn in for a second term, has enacted several executive orders affecting immigration, including ending birthright citizenship. This move has sparked legal challenges, with Democratic state attorneys general and organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union opposing the order as unconstitutional.